Vending machine



L. H. SALLEE Sept. 20, 1932.

VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. 22, 1929 Sept. 20, 1932. H. SALLEE v 1,878,894

VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20, 1932. H. SALLEE VENDING MACHINE 1929 4 -Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed .Nov. 22

Patented ept. 2@, W32

time

LOUIS H. SALLEE, OF LONG- BEACH, GALII EORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN FRANKLIN MEYER,

' OF HOLLYWOOD, GALEOBNIA VENDING: MACHINE Application filed November 22, 1929. Serial No. 409,043.

This invention relates toa vending machine of the type shown and described in the co-pending application of Charles Fleischer, Serial No. 276,089, filed May'S, 5- 1928.

The machine illustrated in the said 00- pending application comprises a platform on which is displayed articles to be vended. At a suitable distance above and to one side of m the platform a suitable crane is mounted.

This crane is provided with arms which project longitudinally from the crane and over the said platform. The crane is adapted to swing about a vertical axis so that the'arms may be swung horizontally, the outer ends of the arms describing an are over the said platform. From the outer ends of the arms is hung a grapple or clam-shelled bucket which is controlled by rods or cables attached to the said outer ends of the arms.

In addition to their horizontal swinging movement the crane arms are adapted to be moved vertically, whereby the grapple may,

be lowered and raised to pick up articles lying on the platform and to discharge such articles within a delivery area included in the platform and over which the grapple is automatically swung, this being the normal'inoperative position of the grapple relative to the platform.

The machine also includes mechanism for setting a stop which will control the position to be assumed by the grapple along its arcuate path at which the grapple will automatically descend to pick up an article from the platform after the required coin has been placed in the machine to start the operation of the mechanism.

In this device the grapple is adapted to swing in but a single are which is struck from the axis of rotation of the crane. This condition limits the range of pick up of the grapple substantially to the are described by the outer ends of the crane arms,'the articles lying at points to either side of the described are being practically inaccessible to the grapple.

' The object of the present invention is to construct a vending machine of the general type above described, but in a manner which will permit the grapple to be moved to and stopped at practically any desired point over the entire area of the article-supporting platform which is selected by a vendee as being occupied by the article desired.

For this purpose the grapple is mounted for radial movement with respect to the axis of rotation of the crane in addition to the arcuate movement about this axis. The usual means for indicating the point along the arcuate path of the grapple at which the grapple is to be stopped being provided, and the grapple itself in the present instance acting as the means forindicating the radial position of the grapple .relative to the axis of rotation of the crane, which together indicate the l1ltimate position at which the grapple is to be stopped. This ultimate positioning and indicating is entirely under the control of the vendee prior to the starting of the operating mechanism by the insertion of a suitable coin. After the coin has been inserted and the mechanism automatically started thereby the crane will be swung about its vertical axis to a position above the indicated point occupied by the article desired, after which the grapple will be lowered to pick up an article on the platform and subsequently raised, after which the crane will again swing back to its normal position over' the delivery area and the crane arms will be operated automatically to release gripped article from the grapple permitting it to drop into the said delivery area whereupon the article will be delivered through a suitable chute to a point accessible to the vendee.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a vending machine embodying the features ofthe pre-' sent invention; a

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the crane mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the Crane mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

the

controlling cables;

area 10 defined by a rectangular enclosure 11- Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 8-8, Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 illustrates a modification of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the machine comprises a casing 1 in which is a horizontally disposed platform 2, dividing the cabinet into an upper compartment 3 and a lower compartment 4, the upper compartment being provided with front and side windows 5, 5 respectively. I

In the upper compartment 3 is a hopper 6 having a curved front wall 7 and an inclined bottom 8 which extends through an opening 9 in the front wall 7 and out over the platform 2 so that the articles as, which are to be vended, when placed in the hopper 6 will move by gravityover the inclined bottom 8, out through the opening 9 in the front wall 7, spreading out over the supporting platorm 2.

At one side of the platform 2 is a delivery above which is abottomless reproduction of a cart 12 which is adapted to receive the vended articles and direct them into the delivery area 10 which is disposed above an inclined chute 13 extending through and helow-the platform 2 and adapted to direct the vended articles into a second inclined chute 14 located in the lower compartment 4 of the cabinet and communicating with a discharge opening 15 formed in a front plate 16 which is fastened to the front wall 17 of the cabinet 1.

Pivotally mounted on a vertical axis located substantially at the center of the upper compartment 3 .and adjacent the rear wall 18 ofthe cabinet is the crane mechanism 25. v

The crane mechanism (see Figs. 4 and 5) comprises a U-shaped-frame 26 consisting of a pair of substantiallylongitudinally extending and parallel side members 27 and 28 respectively which are integrally connected by a transverse member 29. Projecting inwardly from the rear transverse member 29 and between the side members 27 and 28 is'a lug 30 having a hub 31 in which is secured one end of a sleeve 32. .The sleeve 32 is disposed in a vertical position and passes through a bearing 33-located at the apex of an A-frame 34 which is secured to the back wall 18 of the cabinet. Secured to the lower end of the sleeve 32 is an arm 35, to the outer end of which is connected one end of a tension spring 37, the opposite end of which is secured to the rear wall 18 of the cabinet, the spring 37 tending at all times to turn the frame 26 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4.

Axially aligned wlth and extending through the sleeve 32 is a shaft 38, on the upper end of which and above the, hub 31 of the frame 26 is a worm 39 which meshes with a worm-wheel 40 which is secured to av shaft 41 journalled in bearings 42 formed in .the longitudinal side members 27 and 28 of the crane frame 26. On one end of the shaft 41 is a crank arm 43 having a crank pin 44 which extends through an elongated slot 45 formed in a link 46. The opposite end of the link 46 is universally connected at 47 to one 'arm 48 of a bell-crank lever 49 which is pivotally mounted at 50 in a lug 51 which projects rearwardly from the crane frame 26. The second arm 52 of the bell-crank lever 49 is connected to one end of a link 53, the 0pposite end of which is pivotally connected at 54 to the A-frame 34. Pivotally mounted at55 on the link 53 is a stop lever 56 which projects toward the rear'wall 18 of the cabi net 1 and is adapted to be brought into engagement with a toothed rack 57 secured to said Well. I 4

The stop lever 56 extends between vertically extending arms 58, 5 8 of aforked lever 59 (see Fig. 8) which is'pivoted at 60 to-therear wall 18 of the cabinet. Secured to the forked arm 59 is a pointer 61 which is ada t .ed to cooperate with'a fixed dial'62 secured to the rear wall 18 of the cabinet for indicating approximately the position-at which it is desired to stop the-grapple in its horizontal 'arcuate path above the platform 2. The pointer 61 is connected by a rod 62 to a crank arm 63 which is secured to one end of a shaft 64 rotatably mounted at one of its ends in a bearing 65 secured to the rear wall 18 of the cabinet and located within the lower compartment 4 thereof, the opposite end of the shaft 64 being rotatably mounted in a .end of said shaft is rotatably mounted in a bearing 72 secured to the rear wall 18 of the cabinet.

On the lower end of the shaft is secured a worm-wheel 73 which meshes with a worm 74 secured to the armature shaft 75 of an electric motor 76.

Pivotally mounted at and 81 in the side members 27 and 28 respectively of the frame 26 is the outer ends of arms 82 and 83 respectively which are integrally connected at.

their rear ends by a transverse member 84.

Pivotally connected at 86 and 87 to the arms 82 and 83 respectively are the crane arms 88 and 89 respectively. The crane arm aevaaaa t 88 is provided with a la 90 which rides on the peripheral surface 0 a circular member 91 carried by the shaftl.

The crane arm 89 is provided with a lug 93 similar to the lug 90 and which is adapt-- 95 providing a sliding bearing for the outer telescoping sections 96 of these arms (see Fig. 6). Between the outermost end 97 of the inner section 95 and the outer end 98 of the outer section 96 is a compression spring99.

The-outer end of each of the arms is provided with an eye 100, and connected to the eye in the arm 88 is one end of a rod or cable 102. To the eye 100 on the outer end of the arm 89 is connected one end of a rod or cable 103. The cables 102 and 103 are adapted to support and efiect operation of-a grapple 104, to which'the opposite end of the cables 102 and 103 are operativelyconnected and in the manner described in the said co-pending application.

The springs 99 located in the arms 88 and 89 tend to force the outer sections 96 of these arms into the outermost position, whereby thethe portions of the platform 2 located most distantly from the said axis of rotation of the crane element 25, and in order to provide for the movement of the grapple through an are intermediate the said maximum radius and the path defined by the curved front wall 70f the hopper 6, the outer sections 96 of the arms 88 and 89 are adapted to be moved longitudinally of the arms and radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the crane element 26 and for this purpose each of the outer sections 96 is connected to one end of a cable 105 which pames around a sheave wheel 106 pivotally mounted in a bracket 107 carried by the respective arms, the cables 105 being led around sheaves 108 rotatably mounted on the shaft l1, thence around sheave wheels 109 rotatably mounted on a sleeve 110 surrounding the sleeve 32 and disposed between the lower side of the bearing 33 and the upper side of the arm 35, the cables 105, 105 passing down through the tube 71 and being connected at the point 111 (see Fig. 7) to one end of a common cable 112. The cable 112 passes around a sheave wheel 113 which is rotatably mounted in a bracket 114 secured to the under side of a platform 2. The opposite end of the common cable 112 is secured to and wound about the indicating shaft 64, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As above noted the normal inoperative position of the grapple 104 is that illustrated in Fig. 3, the said grapple being disposed above the delivery area 10 and the jaws of the grapple open. In order to operate the device the prospective vendee will first select the article lying on. the platform 2 which he desires and then proceeds to set the mechanism so that the grapple will be-moved to a position directly above the article chosen so that the said article may be picked up by the grapple when the grapple descends.

In order to determine this position the shaft 64 is rotated, thereby winding the cable 112 on the shaft which pulls on the individual cables 105, 105 and thereby slides the outer sections 96 of the arms 88 and 89 inwardly on the inner sections 95 of the arms and against the action of the springs 99 disposed within the said arm, it being assumed, of course, that the article which has been selected occupies aposition other than that within the maximum outward position of the grapple relative to the axis of rotation of the crane. This position may be readily determined by the vendee by comparing the distance between the article and the curved wall 7 and the position of the grapple 104 with respect to the curved wall 7.

After the vendee has positioned the grapple radiallywith respect to the axis of rotation of the crane the shaft 64 is rotated until the pointer 61 indicates aproximately the position occupied by the desired article ascompared to the center,right or left sides of the platform 2, it being noted that the small diameter of the shaft 64 and the slight amount.

of movement required to set the pointer will not materially affect the radial position of the grapple after this has once been deter-.

mined. Obviously, during the radial settin of the grapple the pointer 61 will be oscillate about its pivot 60 each time the shaft 64 is rotated in winding up the cable 112.

The rotary movement of the shaft 64 in determining the lateral position at which the grapple is to stop rocks the forked lever 59 about its center 60 which turns the stop lever 56 about its pivot 55 holding it in a definite position with respect to the fixed toothed rack 57, it being noted from the copending application above mentioned that when the crane is in its normal inoperative position the stop lever 56 is out of engagement with the rack 57 and free to be moved about its pivot 55 by the manipulation of the forked lever 59.

The vendee, having determined the radial and lateral position at which the'fgrapple is to be stopped, proceeds-to insert a coin into the machine through achute 115 which op crates a suitable switch116 which controls the current for operating the motor 76. As the motor operates the shaft 70, and consequently the shaft 38 is rotated which through the worm 39 and worm wheel 40,

tates the crank arm 43 carried thereby is 0 erated and as one end of the slot 45 in the l1nk 46 is normally'in contact with the-crank pin 44 and in view of the spring 37 tending to rotate the crank element in a clockwise direction at all times the bell-crank lever 49 is permitted-to rotate about its pivot,

thereby breaking the toggle eflect formed mately over the article selected by the vendee.

Continued rotation of the shaft 41 causes a cam element 120, which is secured to the shaft 41, to be disengaged from the lever 83 which will turn the U-shaped frame composed of the levers 82 and 83 and cross member 84 to be turned about the axially aligned pivots 80, 81, whereb the ends of the lugs 90 and 93 carried by the arms 88 and 89 respectively will function as fulcrums for the said arms 88 and 89 and effect the lowering of the outer ends of said arms, whereby the grapple will stantially at the same level as the arm 88,.

-'be lowered onto the article to be picked up thereby.

It will be noted that up to this point the jaws of the grapple 104 are open and the lug 93 on the arm 89 is hearing on the shaft 41 while the lug 90 of the arm 88 is hearing on the peripheral surface 91.

Continued rotation of the shaft 41 causes the cam 95 to engage the lug 93 on the arm 89 thereby the arm to a position subthe lug 93 riding onto the peripheral surface 94 of the cam 95. This movement of the arm 89 causes the jaws of the grapple to be closed about thearticle.

Continued rotation ofthe shaft 41 brings the cam 120 into engagement with the curved arm 83 which rotates the frame 82, 83, 84 about the pivots 80, 81, which raises the'arms 88 and 89 to lift the article to a point well i above the platform 2. During this raising of the arms 88 and 89 the lugs and 93 riding,on the ripheral surfaces 91 and 94 function as crums about .which the arms pivot when the frame 82, 83, 84 is swung on the pivots 80, 81.

During the movement of the shaft 41 from the time the stop lever 56 has engaged with the rack 57 the crank pin 44' has been riding in the elongated slot 45 of the link 46; Continued rotation of the shaft after the arms have been raised in the manner above noted brings the crank pin again into engagement tion of the crane frame 26 about its vertical axis, whereby the grapple with the selected article is moved. laterally to its inoperative position over the'discharge area 10.

Continued rotation of the shaft 41 causes the cam 95 to ride from under the lug 93 on the. arm 89, thereby moving the said arm to a lower position relative to the arm 88, whereby the jaws of the grapple are opened and the article delivered into the discharge or delivery chute connected with the delivery area 10. .At this point in the operation the switch controlling the motor 76 is opened automatically, permitting the grapple 104 to remain in its inoperative position as above noted.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cable 112, which controls the radial movement of the grapple with respect to the axis of rotation or longi tudinal movement of the grapple with respect to the arms 88 and 89, is wound about the shaft 64 which also controls the indicatin pointer 61. In Fig. 9, I have shown the ca le 112 as being wound about an independ 'ent shaft 64a, whereby the longitudinal movement of the grapple with respect to the supportin arms may be controlled independent o the pointer 61.

' While the arms 88 and 89 are shown in the preferred form of the invention as comprising a pair of telescoping'sections, obviously the cables which support the grapple 104 may be attached to any form of carriage adapted to ride on the arm and to be moved outwardly or longitudinally of the arm by anyresihent means and moved in an opposite direction by the cables 105 in the manner above noted without departing from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a vending'machine of the class described, the combination of a grapple, a laterally movable support for said grapple,

.' means for automatically effecting lateral movement of said support, means for manually determining the extent of said lateral movement from a normal inoperative. .position, and means for moving said grapple longitudinally of said support.

2. In a vending machine of the class described, the combination of a grapple, a laterally movable support for said grapple, means for automatically effecting lateral movement of said support, means for manually determining the extent. of said lateral movement from a normal inoperative position, and means operable by the lateral movement determining means for moving said grapple longitudinally of said support.

3. In a vending machine of the class described, the combination of a grapple, a laterally movable support for said grapple comprising an arm adapted for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, an element mounted on said arm for longitudinal movement relative thereto and by which said grapple is carried, means for resiliently urging said carrying element in a direction outwardly from the pivotal axis of said arm to obtain maximum grappling range for said grapple, and means for forcibly moving the said element, in an opposite direction along said arm to decrease the grappling range of said grapple.

4. In a vending machine of the class descrbied, the combination of a grapple, a laterally movable support for said grapple comprising an arm adapted for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and consisting of two relatively movable sections to one of which the grapple is operatively connected, resilient means normally ur in the ra le-carr in section in an outward direction along the other of said sections and relative to the pivotal axis of said arm to obtain maximum grappling range for said grapple, and means for forcibly moving the said grapple-carrying section in an opposite direction along the other said section to decrease the grappling range of said grapple.

5. In a vending machine of the class described, the combination of a grapple, a laterally movable support for said grapple comprising a pair of telescoping sections consisting of an inner cylindrical member and an outer tubular member, the said outer member being closed at one end and open at its opposite end to receive said inner cylindrical mmeber, means at the closed end of the outer tubular member adapted to carry said grapple, a spring within the tubular outer member and disposed between the closed end thereof and the enclosed end of the said inner cylindrical member, and means for forcibly moving the outer member along said inner member against the action of said spring. Y

6. In a vending machine of the class described, the combination of a grapple, a laterally movable support for said grapple comprising a pair of telescoping sections consisting of an inner cylindrical member and an outer tubular member, the said outer tubular. member being closed at one end and open at its opposite end to receive said cylindrical member, an eye at the closed end of said tubular member adapted to carry said grapple, a compression spring Within the outer tubular member anddisposed between the LOUIS H. SALLEE.

cable thereon. 

